Biomechanical analysis of quadruped movement in patients with spinal cord injury: A case series

Abstract

Background: In the rehabilitation for patients with spinal cord injury, we often use developmental movement patterns of infants and Activity-Based Therapy. They include quadruped movement, but no reports of movement analysis on quadruped movement in patients with spinal cord injury. Objective: This study aimed to analyze quadruped movement in patients with paraplegia, and to summarize its characteristics. Methods: The quadruped movement of 3 patients with complete paraplegia were measured using a three-dimensional motion analyzer, and their characteristics were summarized. Results: All cases showed an ipsilateral rotation of the pelvis when moving the lower limbs. Case A rose the contralateral upper and lower limbs simultaneously. Cases B and C moved one limb at a time. Conclusions: Our results suggested that patients with spinal cord injury have an ipsilateral rotation of the pelvis when moving the lower limbs in quadruped movement. Also, it seems that, depending on the degree of disability, some cases were able to move the contralateral upper and lower limbs simultaneously, while others moved one limb at a time